From yummy seeds...

This morning I logged onto Artfire and the first thing I saw on the front page was a giant sunflower. The bright orange colours made me smile a huge wide grin. Is there a happier, more heart lifting flower than a sunflower? I know they are big and brash, but for all that vibrant, in your face colour and size don't they just make you feel all summery and warm inside every time you see them? Add to that they have very yummy seeds to eat as Autumn arrives and I have to say I love you Sunflowers!

Deb Moran's photograph captures beautifully what I mean about sunflowers, their bright orange glow and their warm smiley face. I also love the reflection below the flower in the photo. It somehow shows the fragility of the flower and reminds us to enjoy it whilst it lasts as soon it will fade and be gone.

This sunflower from Anna Clifton Jewellery is just so beautiful, you would never realise it's petals was made from recycled aluminium cans would you? The patterned centre is sterling silver which contrasts beautifully with the delicate looking bronze like petals. Beautiful!

These beautiful baby ballet slipper from Pink Angel Wings Creations are just so adorable. Imagine a baby girl in a bright yellow dress wearing these little shoes and a pretty sunflower print summer hat. She'd look like a little princess fit to visit the Queen.

Kitty Linnington Art's sunflower card just shouts out "Yippee for the sunshine, long summer days and vibrant colours!" Do you know someone that's feeling a little bit down, or is having a hard time? Imagine the smile on their face if this card dropped though their letterbox with a personalised message from you written inside. Go on, send someone a smile in an envelope!

I have to be honest, I don't think I would want to poke pins into Sew Lucky Embroidery's pincushion, purely because it would obscure the beautifully embroidered sunflower. I guess I could put the pins in the back of the cushion. This little cushion would definitely make pinning those sewing patterns a much more jolly task.

So Sunflowers really are like balls of summer and joy to me. I hope you feel the same way about them and that today's article has given you a warm glow!

Written by Lynne of PiratePixieCrew and Hyperloop Hoops

D.I.Y. with a little help from Coriandr Sellers

Have you seen items on the handmade sites and thought "I'd like to make one of those" or are you a person that likes to learn new skills just so you can appreciate the work that goes into items you'd like to buy? Well today's items might be right up your street. There are a lot of people out there that not only create beautiful handmade goods but they take the time to make patterns and write tutorials so that you can learn to hand make these beautiful items too. I thought I'd have a look around Coriandr to see what tutorials and patterns I could find there.

My Sweet Little designed and wrote a pattern for this gorgeous cuddly elephant. From tail to tusks this little fellow is so appealing I might have to purchase the pattern and make up a whole batch of them to use for toy drops for the Toy Society.

Have you got little tubs full of seed beads that you are unsure what to make with? The Crimson Moon can help you out with a tutorial to make these woven beads. They are so pretty and can be used for a myriad of projects. You can make them in any colour or pattern to match up with your project.

Are you dying for a cream cake but can't have one because you are dieting? How about keeping your hands busy making this knitted cream éclair from Giggling Goblin? It will take your mind off wanting to eat and it will hone your knitting skills.

Covetables makes the most cwtchy cuddly plushies and dolls for sale, but she also has this kit to create one of her fabulous plushie owls. Each one that gets made is bound to look slightly different as they will have a twist in them from the person that made them. Maybe we should all make one and set up a gallery of owls to see how they all turn out.

Now if you are one of those people that has lots of creative ideas, but no time to make them, Lottie Lodge has a listing that might help you out. She is willing to make up patterns for you. Not really D.I.Y. more Rent yourself a D.I.Y. knitter to fulfil your dreams.

I love that all these creative people are so full of love for their crafts that they want to spread that joy by teaching others how to do these crafts, or so excited by their craft they want to make you just what you want. There are loads of great people out there sharing tutorials and patterns, so if you want to learn something new get searching and support these fantastic people that are eager to share their talents with you.

Written by Lynne of PiratePixieCrew and Hyperloop Hoops

The annoyances of making things.

Lynne currently isn't a happy bunny.

Her sewing machine downstairs outright refuses to work on a piece of waterproofed fleece she bought to make blankets out of. The problem is, that not only is the machine seemingly incapable of pulling the fabric through smoothly, but the needles keep snapping due to the thickness of the fabric and it's tough, waterproof membrane (it's doubled over as she is hemming the edges). So thus far, she, well - the machine, has snapped 3 three needles and has only finished one blanket. She has more needles, but she refuses to "waste any more flippin' needles on this *beep* *beep* *beep* material". I don't blame her as the only place we can get needles from (the seamstress and haberdashery supplies shop) is a 40 minute bus ride away, and given that the bus service around here is so rubbish, it's about a 3 hour round trip.

Everyone knows the saying "A good workman never blames his tools", but she isn't blaming the machine or the needles, but in this case, it is the needles fault, they simply aren't up to the task. Unfortunately, we don't know where to buy titanium alloy needles that could punch through rhino skin, so we are stuck with the good old steel ones. I would offer to stitch them all up for her, but I'm a man, and thus my sewing resembles a big pile of tinned spaghetti emptied all over the floor, replacing the tomato sauce with my own blood.

I'm just glad that making hula hoops requires no bits that can easily snap, or no bits that are under immense pressure. The tape can irritate me to the point of incredible annoyance when it sticks to itself, but I can just cut the stuck together bit off and carry on - I don't have to waste 5 minutes changing the needle then rethreading it all again.

What bit annoys you the most about the items you make? What's the one thing that if it happens, makes your blood boil?

If you are already at that point of wanting to break something and go and cry in the corner, here is a picture to cheer you up!